Search Results (542)

To ensure the safety of vehicles and occupants under failures or functional limitations of ego vehicles, a minimum risk maneuver (MRM) has been proposed as a key automated driving system (ADS) function. However, executing an MRM may pose certain potential risks when sensor failures occur. This study proposed an MRM strategy designed to enhance highway-driving safety during MRM execution under multiple sensor-failure conditions. A hazard and operability study analysis, based on an ADS behavior model, is conducted to systematically identify hazards, determine potential hazardous events, and categorize the associated safety risks arising from sensor failures. Within the proposed strategy, virtual objects are generated to account for potential hazards and support risk assessments. Adaptive MRM behavior is determined in real time by analyzing surrounding objects and evaluating time-to-collision and time headway. The strategy is verified by using a MATLAB–CARLA co-simulation environment across three representative highway scenarios with combined sensor failures. The result demonstrates that the proposed MRM strategy can mitigate collision risk in hazardous scenarios while effectively leveraging the remaining functional sensors to guide the ego vehicle toward an appropriate minimum risk condition during MRM execution. Full article

Marine flora is a significant source of bioactive metabolites. These compounds have been demonstrated to have outstanding bioactivity and biocompatibility, enabling their use in various therapeutic applications. Therefore, examining the biological potential of marine natural compounds remains important, with particular emphasis on their interaction profiles to identify the macromolecular partners they can modulate. This study focused on the interactome profiling of the marine alkaloid caulerpin (CAU), isolated from the alga Caulerpa cylindracea. Along with the discovery of its antitumor properties, this metabolite has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic applications, including modulation of MAO-B and PPARs involved in inflammatory responses, as well as the discovery of its antitumor properties. Two complementary MS-based proteomic approaches were used to identify CAU target proteins in cancer cells: DARTS, which enabled proteome-wide screening to identify proteins interacting with the compound, and t-LIP-MRM-MS, which pinpointed the target protein regions involved in ligand binding. RUVB-like 1 (RUVBL1), a protein that regulates the essential mechanism of carcinogenesis, including chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and transcriptional control, was discovered as an intriguing CAU target. These results were corroborated via in silico and biological investigations that elucidated CAU role in the regulation of RUVBL1 activity, highlighting its promising therapeutic relevance. Full article

Autonomous robots and small intelligent vehicles with diverse service functions have been extensively researched and are expected to be deployed in scenarios such as sci-tech parks, museums, and transportation hubs. Although designed as AI-driven assistants, they may not always provide optimal customer service. A key challenge is achieving service intelligence, where adaptive mode switching plays a critical role. Our experimental research demonstrates that the composition of pedestrian types can be inferred from microscopic flow fluctuations. This finding enables the development of effective service mode switching strategies. Therefore, this article proposes a method that classifies pedestrians by their temperament-based behaviors, simulates their movement, and extracts microscopic features from flow data using moving standard deviation (MSTD) and moving root mean square (MRMS) indicators. Analysis of these features enables inference of approximate composition ratio of different pedestrian types, consequently enabling a targeted switching mechanism between active and passive service modes. Simulations confirm that each pedestrian type exhibits distinct flow patterns, and the employed indicators can effectively estimate pedestrian ratios through microscopic flow data analysis, thereby facilitating efficient service mode switching. Furthermore, validation using pedestrian flow data extracted from real-world video footage confirms the method’s applicability and effectiveness. Full article

Early recognition of a risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains a global challenge, and blood proteomic markers are of particular interest for wide-scale diagnostic use. Quantitative multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach demonstrates good reproducibility in the characteristic changes in the levels of reported candidate biomarkers (CBs) in different cohorts in AD. Following up on our previous study, we performed a joint analysis of 331 blood plasma samples from two different clinical cohorts of participants, comprising a total of 95 samples from patients with AD, 136 samples from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 100 samples from controls. The obtained results confirm the significance of 37 CBs. A logistic regression-based algorithm was used to build protein classifiers, and a total of 21 important proteins were selected, 13 of which (ORM1, APOA4, LBP, HP, FN1, BCHE, APOE, PZP, A1BG, TF, SERPINA7, TTR, and F12) formed a universal panel that demonstrated strong classification performance in distinguishing AD patients from controls (ROC-AUC = 0.90) and in separating stable and progressing patients with MCI (ROC-AUC = 0.81). Overall, the analysis confirms the high potential of the MRM method for validating CBs in independent cohorts. Full article

A rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method with diode-array (DAD) and tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection was developed and, for the first time, applied for the determination of potassium iodide in ophthalmic formulations. The approach is based on an indirect derivatization reaction in which iodide is oxidized by hydrogen peroxide to electrophilic iodine species that react with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, forming 3-iodo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid as a stable and quantifiable product. Key reaction parameters, including oxidant concentration, temperature, and incubation time, were optimized to ensure selective mono-iodination and consistent analytical response. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18-DE RP column using gradient elution with aqueous ammonium acetate and acetonitrile, while MS/MS detection was carried out in MRM mode under ESI(−) conditions. Both UHPLC–DAD and UHPLC–MS/MS methods were validated according to ICH Q2(R2), demonstrating linearity with r² ≥ 0.998, recovery values of 97.5–107.1%, and intraday/interday RSD values up to 3.7%. UHPLC–MS/MS provided higher sensitivity (LOD 37.7 ng/mL; LOQ 114 ng/mL), whereas UHPLC–DAD reached LOD and LOQ values of 24.9 and 75.4 µg/mL. Comparative analysis showed that DAD is suitable for routine quantification, while MS/MS allows lower detection limits and improved selectivity. The developed method offers a practical and reliable tool for the quality control of potassium iodide in ophthalmic formulations. Full article

Background: Nintedanib (NIN), an intracellular inhibitor of tyrosine kinases that inhibits processes fundamental to the progression of pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), is used in the treatment of patients with PPF associated with systemic sclerosis. During NIN therapy, adverse events lead to a permanent dose reduction and treatment discontinuation. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can be used to manage and optimize drug administration based on the measurement of drug concentrations. Therefore, TDM can be helpful in minimizing the impact of adverse events and help patients remain in therapy. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new bioanalytical UPLC-MS/MS method enabling the determination of NIN and its active metabolite in the plasma of patients with PPF associated with systemic sclerosis. Methods: Sample preparation was carried out using protein precipitation with an extraction mixture: acetonitrile neutralized with 2 M sodium carbonate. Analytes and the internal standard (intedanib-d3) were monitored using mass spectrometry (MS) and positive-ion-mode electrospray ionization by MRM. Chromatographic analysis was performed on a Zorbax SB-C18 column kept at 40 °C using isocratic elution. The mobile phase contained 0.1% formic acid in water; acetonitrile (35:65 v/v) was pumped at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The analysis time was 5 min. Results: The method was verified according to the EMA guidelines over a concentration range of 2.00–200.00 ng/mL. The correlation coefficients for the calibration curves were found to be 0.9991 and 0.9957 for NIN and its metabolite BIBF 1202, respectively. The within- and between-run precision and accuracy of LLOQ were evaluated for NIN and BIBF 1202 to be within RSD 2.96%, 4.53%, 5.51%, and 6.72% and in the ranges of 102.2–107.3%, 98.0–101.8%, 104.3–114.2%, and 99.1–104.9, respectively. The stability of the analytes in plasma after 4 h at 30 °C was found to be satisfactory, meeting the assumed bias criteria below 15%. Conclusions: The proposed method was successfully applied to analyze two active compounds—NIN and BIBF 1202—in plasma samples at two time points: trough (pre-dose concentration) and 2–3 h (maximum concentration) after the administration of NIN. Full article

A method combining magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of diazepam residues in aquatic products. A novel magnetic nanoparticle material, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@DVB-NVP, was synthesized and applied as an adsorbent for sample cleanup. The sample preparation procedure involved extraction with 1% ammonia–acetonitrile, followed by purification using the MSPE technique to efficiently remove matrix interferents. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column with a gradient elution program using a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid–2 mM ammonium acetate solution and methanol. Detection was performed under multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with positive electrospray ionization (ESI⁺). Quantification was carried out using the external standard method. The synthesized magnetic material was characterized using SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, and VSM, confirming its mesoporous structure, strong adsorption capacity, and excellent magnetic responsiveness. The method demonstrated good linearity over the concentration range of 0.25–50 μg/L (r² = 0.997). The limits of detection and quantification were 0.20 μg/kg and 0.50 μg/kg, respectively. Average recoveries from spiked blank matrices at three levels (0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 μg/kg) ranged from 89.3% to 119.7%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) between 0.8% and 10.2%. The proposed method is highly selective, exhibits minimal matrix interference, and provides reliable quantitative performance, making it suitable for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of diazepam residues in aquatic products. Full article

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in low-capacity urban contexts is frequently constrained by fragmented governance, limited institutional readiness, and premature implementation of digital technologies. This study investigates how internal operational capacity, external factors, and Geographic Information System (GIS) integration interact sequentially to influence waste governance outcomes in South Africa’s Vhembe District. Using survey data from 399 municipal actors and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the findings indicate that internal capacity encompassing staffing sufficiency, financial coordination, and service regularity is the most significant determinant of operational performance (β = 0.432, p < 0.001). This improvement in operations subsequently enhances strategic service effectiveness (β = 0.267, p < 0.001). GIS does not directly improve daily waste operations but contributes significantly to long-term planning outcomes, such as route optimization and infrastructure siting (β = 0.130, p = 0.017). External factors, particularly community participation, exhibit limited standalone influence, becoming effective only when foundational systems are stabilized. These insights inform the Municipal Readiness Model for Digital Waste Governance (MRM-DWG), a three-stage framework that aligns interventions with institutional maturity: (1) internal operational readiness, (2) strategic digital integration, and (3) participatory and external engagement. The MRM-DWG advances a sequencing logic rooted in absorptive capacity theory, offering a context-sensitive governance tool applicable to similarly constrained municipalities across the Global South. Full article

Rima Bode is located on the central nearside of the Moon, with its rich volcanic landforms, which is considered an ideal region for studying lunar geological evolution. In this study, we systematically analyzed the geomorphological characteristics, composition, spatial thickness variations in basalts and pyroclastic deposits, thermophysical properties, and chronology of Rima Bode using the Kaguya Multiband (MI) data, Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) data, Terrain Camera (TC) data, and the CE-2 Microwave Radiometer (MRM) data. The main results are as follows. (1) The basalts can be categorized into three distinct units (Regions II, III, and IV), and the distribution range of pyroclastic deposits was redefined. Using the crater excavation technique, the deposit thicknesses were constrained to 4.3–51.9 m for pyroclastic deposits and 2.3–269.2 m for basalts, establishing a quantitative stratigraphic framework; (2) this study reveals that pyroclastic deposits exhibit abnormally brightness temperature (TB) behaviors, with slower diurnal TB change rates, indicating their high thermal inertia. (3) Chronological analysis indicated that volcanism lasted for ~0.38 Ga, with at least four distinct episodes of volcanic eruptions, suggesting complex magmatic processes and continued thermal activity within this region. These findings establish a comprehensive geological framework for the Rima Bode region, thereby deepening our understanding of its geological evolution. Full article

Phenolic molecules represent one of the most prevalent and biologically important categories of secondary metabolites. Within this diverse group, phenolic acids and flavonoids are the most extensively studied categories, primarily due to their structural diversity and broad spectrum of reported bioactivities. We first provide an overview of the physicochemical characteristics of flavonoids and phenolic acids and discuss how these properties relate to mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation patterns and chromatographic behavior, including retention characteristics and isomer resolution. Next, we systematically examine the utilization of MS-based procedures for the characterization of flavonoids and phenolic acids in complex natural matrices. We initially examine targeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) utilizing triple-quadrupole (QQQ) platforms, focusing on selected/multiple reaction monitoring (SRM/MRM) and associated scanning techniques (product-ion and precursor-ion scans). We summarize validated methodologies and strategies for both absolute and relative quantification, including stable-isotope dilution, matrix-matched calibration or standard addition, and internal-standard normalization. We subsequently analyze untargeted high-resolution mass spectrometry methodologies (direct injection and coupled to liquid chromatography), highlighting recent progress in data acquisition while addressing ongoing challenges in computational processing. Finally, we present a brief evaluation of commonly used extraction and clean-up processes, highlighting their practical impact on phenolic recoveries. Full article

Phytohormones are key signaling molecules that regulate plant growth, stress adaptation, and fruit ripening. However, their low abundance and structural diversity complicate accurate quantification in food matrices. This study presents a validated LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous detection of seven phytohormones in tomato fruit, including two synthetic analogs that mimic natural auxins and cytokinins. Method optimization focused on extraction efficiency, solid-phase cleanup, and mobile phase composition, achieving high recovery (85–95%) and reduced matrix effects. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column, with detection by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in MRM mode. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² > 0.98), precision, and robustness, with detection limits as low as 0.05 ng/mL for abscisic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine. Validation followed US-FDA and EC 2021/808 guidelines, ensuring regulatory compliance and analytical reliability. Analysis of tomato samples from five geographic origins revealed significant differences in phytohormone profiles, particularly in abscisic and salicylic acids, highlighting the method’s ability to capture biologically and agriculturally relevant variation. This workflow offers a sensitive, transferable platform for monitoring bioactive compounds in tomatoes and other food crops, supporting post-harvest quality assessment and food metabolomics research. Full article

Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR) is known to have a medicinal and food-based homology. It is used to treat infantile convulsion, epilepsy, spasm, tetanus, and vertigo. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify fourteen components (p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, gastrodin, parishin E, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, parishin C, parishin A, parishin B, nicotinamide, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, adenosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, syringaldehyde, dauricine, and nobiletin) of GR in rat plasma. Methanol precipitation was used to prepare the samples with astragalin, serving as the internal standard. In multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, the fourteen components were separated by gradient elution on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC^® HSS T3 column. Under these conditions, all fourteen analytes’ calibration curves demonstrated strong linearity within wide concentration ranges (r > 0.9941). Accuracy for the intra-day and inter-day assessments ranged from −13.74% to 12.76%, and the precision for all analytes remained below 8.88%. The analytes’ extraction recoveries ranged from 66.78% to 114.2%, accompanied by matrix effects ranging from 63.65% to 117.61%. Under the evaluated conditions, stability tests confirmed that the compounds remained stable, with relative standard deviations below 13.83%. Consequently, the UHPLC-MS/MS method was effectively used to determine the pharmacokinetics of fourteen components in rat plasma after oral administration of GR extract. This study provides supportive data for rational application of GR. Full article

Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander) seeds have long been used as a traditional medicine and a spice worldwide. Despite its abundant use, bioactive properties of coriander seeds, correlated with the antioxidant and phenolic data, have not been fully studied systematically. This study evaluated the phenolic data, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial activity of coriander seed extracts obtained using solvents of differing polarity. Higher total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity were observed in the polar extracts, while moderate and non-polar extracts possessed higher antibacterial activity. Acetone extract (Ace) had the highest antibacterial activity, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 16.2 ± 0.2 mm against B. subtilis, and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1 and 2% (w/v), respectively. The MBC/MIC ratio between 1 and 4 was observed for the active extracts of coriander seeds, indicating their bactericidal behavior. The liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC–MS/MS) system using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) targeted analysis identified 13 phenolic compounds: gallic acid, ellagic acid, gentisic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, o-coumaric acid, sinapinic acid, chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, trans-cinnamic acid, and quercetin. Quantitative differences were observed in the phenolic compounds across the different coriander seed extracts. The TPC was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) and positively correlated with cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) (r = 0.92), as well as with ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (r = 0.98); furthermore, it showed that the higher level of antioxidant capacity of the coriander seed extracts was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, gentisic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. However, antibacterial activity and phenolic/antioxidant content were negatively correlated, suggesting that non-polar compounds may impact antibacterial activity. Full article

A sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of fungicides from various chemical classes, including strobilurins, triazoles, benzimidazoles, carbamates, and others. Target analytes included azoxystrobin, boscalid, carbendazim, cyazofamid, prochloraz, and tebuconazole. Sample preparation used optimized QuEChERS extraction with d-SPE cleanup to minimize matrix interferences. Chromatographic separation employed a C18 column with gradient elution, while detection used ESI in positive/negative modes with sMRM. Validation (SANTE/11312/2021) showed the deviation of the back-calculated concentrations of the calibration standards from the true concentrations were less than ±20%, recoveries 70–120%, RSD < 20%, and LOQs ≤ 10 µg/kg. The method supports routine monitoring of fungicide residues for regulatory compliance. Full article

Owing to their high vertical resolution, remote sensing data from meteorological satellite hyperspectral infrared sounders are well-suited for the identification, monitoring, and early warning of high-impact weather events. The effective utilization of full field-of-view (FOV) observations from satellite infrared sounders in high-impact weather applications remains a major research focus and technical challenge worldwide. This study proposes a generalized variational retrieval framework to estimate full FOV cloud fraction and precipitable water vapor (PWV) from observations of the Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS) onboard the Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) satellite. Based on this method, experiments are performed using high-frequency FY-4A/GIIRS observations during the landfall periods of Typhoon Lekima (2019) and Typhoon Higos (2020). A three-step channel selection strategy based on information entropy is first designed for FY-4A/GIIRS. A constrained generalized variational retrieval method coupled with a cloud cost function is then established. Cloud parameters, including effective cloud fraction and cloud-top pressure, are initially retrieved using the Minimum Residual Method (MRM) and used as initial cloud information. These parameters are iteratively optimized through cost-function minimization, yielding full FOV cloud fields and atmospheric profiles. Full FOV brightness temperature simulations are conducted over cloudy regions to quantitatively evaluate the retrieved cloud fractions, and the derived PWV is further applied to the identification and analysis of hazardous weather events. Experimental results demonstrate that incorporating cloud parameters as auxiliary inputs to the radiative transfer model improves the simulation of FY-4A/GIIRS brightness temperature in cloud-covered areas and reduces brightness temperature biases. Compared with ERA5 Total Column Water Vapour (TCWV) data, the PWV derived from full FOV profiles containing cloud parameter information shows closer agreement and, at certain FOVs, more effectively indicates the occurrence of high-impact weather events. The simplified methodology proposed in this study provides a robust basis for the future assimilation and operational utilization of infrared data over cloud-affected regions in numerical weather prediction models. Full article